Every Season is Flu Season

Throughout history, there have been recognizable patterns of the emergence of new diseases, especially influenzas. In just the last few years, the avian flu and the H1N1 “swine” flu struck fear into millions as a seemingly endless toll of victims became infected. In order to hinder the reappearance of these vicious patterns that hold a plethora of pandemics, some scientist believe that the surveillance of these flus is essential for prevention and protection. The pros to the research are made apparent in the Nature Online article “Open the Debate on Flu Research”. However, this is a polarizing issue for the opposition feels that the study of said diseases could lead to an accidental release to the public as stated in the Nature Online article “Caution Urged for Mutant Flu Work”. In order to gain knowledge of these diseases and how they are transmitted, I feel that the study of foreign influenzas is necessary.

According to Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases, states that the debate over the issue is necessary. However, it is impossible to predict the dangers in the mutation of the diseases studied, until they are studied. “That is a problem, but it doesn't necessarily negate the potential importance of such knowledge, should we get the ability, perhaps through specialized centres, that could do much more extensive sequencing of sample viruses from outbreak areas.”

The opposition is not convinced of the potential of a public benefit from the testing and manipulations of mutant flus. “More than a dozen flu experts contacted by Nature say they believe that the work opens up important vistas in basic research, and that it sends a valuable warning about the potential for the virus to spark a human pandemic. But they caution that virus surveillance systems are ill-equipped to detect such mutations arising in flu viruses. As such, work on the viruses is unlikely to offer significant, immediate public-health benefits, they say.”

The stark views concerning this issue, brought to light by these articles, make it difficult to predict the reaped benefits of the surveillance of mutant disease and the potential dangers of public exposure. However, I feel that Anthony Fauci’s argument in favor of the research to decrease the risk of pandemics in the future is quite potent and difficult to dispute.

Works Cited

http://www.nature.com/news/caution-urged-for-mutant-flu-work-1.9882

http://www.nature.com/news/open-the-debate-on-flu-research-1.9896